AN ACT to amend article twenty, chapter nineteen of the code of
West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated section
twenty-four, relating to causing death or injury to any
trained dog or horse used by law-enforcement officials in the
performance of their official duties; criminal penalties; and
restitution.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That article twenty, chapter nineteen of the code of West
Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be
amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section
twenty-four, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 20. DOGS AND CATS.

§19-20-24. Causing death or injury to animals used by
law-enforcement officials; criminal penalties.

Any person who, without justification, and with the unlawful intent to inflict serious physical injury or death, causes the
death of any trained dog or horse used by law-enforcement
officials in the performance of their official duties is guilty
of a felony, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not
less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars
and imprisoned in the penitentiary for a definite term of not
more than three years.
Any person who, without justification, willfully and
unlawfully causes physical injury to any trained dog or horse
used by law-enforcement officials in the performance of their
official duties is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction
thereof, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or
confined in the county jail not more than six months, or both.
Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be
ordered to make restitution to the law-enforcement agency owning
the animal for any veterinary bills and replacement costs of any
disabled or killed animal.